The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-02-26
Democracy and Reform.


The Democratic party has ever been the
party of reform. 1t has maintained, from the
beginning, steady progression towards anne
Iteration and improvement. Nearly all the
reform effected in this State has been through
its agency and by its active efforts. 1t gave
to the people the choice of their Governor
and all their minor officers by ballot. 1t
abolished the life tenure of office, and pre-
vented the Offices from being handed down
and retained in the same family from one
generation to another, as was the case under
the old regime To go back no further than
1886, fifty years ago, the heated contest of
that year, in the electoral election, was for
reform, and was won by the Democrats in a
popular majority, although they elected but
10 of their electors to 81 of the opposition.
That contest, however, led to the reform of
1888, which was the direct fruit of the Demo
cratic agitation on that subject.
To say that ''the Democratic party is ripe
for the proper sort of REFORM" is certainly
a work ofsupererogation. 1t has always been
ripe for reform, and has ever been the only
genuine reform party in the State, because all
its reform measures have been obstructed and
resisted by the opposition party.
But, what is 1.-THE proper sort of reformY'
This question is one of much Importance, and
one which is engaging large share of the
public attention at the present time, and is
likely to engage much more of that attention
before the close of the political campaign of
the presentyear Not every proposed change
in our organic law can be deemed measure
of reform. For instance, it has been pro-
posed to 90 back to the life Tenure, or during
good behaviour in office, so far as the Judi
ciary is concerned. 1t is also proposed to
increase the salaries of the Judges of our APP
pellate Court to that received by Senator or
Representative in Congress. 1t is further re-
commended, by these pseudo-reformers, to
change the mode of selecting the Judges, by
taking the choice out OF the hands of the peo-
pie, and puttingit again, We suppose, into the
hands of one man. 1t is also recommended
that the salary of the Governor should be in
creased, aud, as corrollary, of course, that
our State tax should be increased; for, if we
are to increase our expenses, it follows, as
matter of course, that the people must be
taxed heavier to meet these increased ex-
penses.
Call you this reform? Is it not rather, the
very opposite of reform. Retrenchment and
economy in the public expenditures, have
usually been associated with the idea of re-
form, but here is system of so-called reform
which contemplates thrusting the hands OF
the tax gatherers still further into the pockets
of the people, to support system of extrava-
gance in paying our officials imuniGcent sala-'
ries far beyond the earnings of men in the
ordinary vocations of life,
People of Carroll County, need we ask you
the question whether ySu are in favor of
"reform' like this? Are you in favor of re-
turning to a state of things such as existed
under the old regiu Ito life tenure in office,
to surrender of a = choice of your admins
liilluDsj Justice, Did an admission, virtually,
- Are incompetent to rule? Do
Governor and your Judges
elaries as to necessltate an
and while you toll in your
3, yonr public servants may be
III and living in luxuriance and